Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I
Diaries of Frank Cyril Swannell Learn more.
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BC Archives MS-0392 - Box 1, Volume 4-5
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55
Neuf-Berquin to Billets La Maison Blanc
at Neuf Berquin -- church, old mill shelled by English 7 German officers at our billet 10-14 October -- French at Merville, English at Hazebrouch -- 32000 Germans German machine guns in
granary windows -- 75 m.m. guns threw 40 shells into the farm -- round holes -- through door. -- one shell exploded in kitchen midden & another in chimney. Told that 600 Germans buried near burnt farm close by. Move out 8 pm & march to old billeting area. -- Sleep with Dan McGregor in waggon box -- very cold & stiff Visiting old friends all day -- made very welcome everywhere
Wrote Noakes enclosing duplicate copy of will
Usual parade, but with Findley go to Steenwerck & review acquaintanceship with the Touquets, Olivers . Mme Chieux & Jeanne & old M. Charles
Battalion Parade with usual medieval drill & respirator & helmet inspection -- Told no retirement allowable on account of gas
Writing letters all my spare time today.
Write Mitchell to ascertain the steps necessary to take in order to obtain a commission in the Imperial Army
Obtain correspondent for Ada in the person of Mlle. Alida Bouquet -- a refined well educated girl of about 18 in the Bureau de Poste. (See photo pge 42) Got me in wrong with Ada as she forward a letter from me thru the French P.O. in which I had told Ada the girls in Flanders were homely as mud fences. Alida slipped a note in with my letter & enclosed her photo. She was pretty!
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.